Wall covering



April 12 1932. J. KRAUss WALL COVERING Filed Jan. 22,

INVENTOR Pateptea Apr. 12, lesa UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOSEPH neuss, or HTTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, AssIGNoR, BY DIRECT AND NESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T NEW BRICK CORPORATION, 0F PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA., A.

CORPORATION 0F PENNSYLVANIA WALL comme VApplication led January-22, 1931. Serial No. 510,441.

is cheap and tawdry.

Again blocks intended to represent bricks and the like have been cemented or otherwise f secured by surface attachmentto sheets of backing material, such as composition boards and the boards have then been nailed to the `wall. lIn such cases to properly carry'out desired appearance.

ened and in some cases detached from the backing.

One of the objects which I have in view is the provision of an inexpensive wall covering simulating bricks or the like which may be readily attached to the building; which will present a close resemblance-to a brick or similar wall, and which will remain permanently in place and indefinitely retain the For this purpose I have invented a new i vand improved wall covering comprising a composition board backing preferably of a material similar. to cellotex, which is composition board formed of sugar cane, and blocks formed by plastic material, such ascement, which are cast or molded in place on the backing, the backing being provided with suitable apertures preferably with outwardwly converging walls, 4into which rapertures the material from which the blocks are formed enters and when it hardens permanently keys the blocks to the backing.

One` or more keys may be provided for each block, but I prefer t-o form the keys .so that they bridge two or more blocks whereby in addition to keying the blocks permanently to the backing the blocks are permanently conj nected in proper spaced relation to each other.

In the present practice the mortar joints between adjacent bricks are usually simulated by coloring the grooves between the blocks with a pigment contrastingwith the color of l the blocks. Such illusion is very imperfect and usually serves to heighten the cheap appearance of the wall.

In my invention to represent the mortar bond between the bricks or like units I pointl the grooves or depressions between the blocks with properly colored bricklayers mortar or similar plastic material. Again when the wall covering is placed in position the joints between the adjacent backing sections are likewise covered and are pointed with mortar.

Other novel features of construction, and also of arrangement of parts, will appear from the following description.

I also have invented a new and improved process for manufacturing my improved wall covermg.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein I have illustrated a practical embodiment of the principles of my invention, Fig. 1 is an. elevation of a section of my improved wall coverlng.

- 1 Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the same taken along the line 2-2 in Fig.'1.

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 3 3 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a broken elevation of the backing board before the blocks are ,cast thereon an showing the apertures in the board.

Fig. 5 isa plan view showing the mold and grid and backing board arranged for casting the blocks for one of my units.

Fig. 6 is a View similar to Fig. 5 but showing each of the blocks keyed separately to the backing board. y f

Fig. 7 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 7 -7 in Fig. 6. I v

Fig. 8 is a broken view similar to Fig. 6 showing a block` provided with two keys.

Fig. 9 is a Vdetail x in section showing the method of pointing the joints between adjacent sections of my wall covering.`

` a section.

zontally alined blocks while 3 represents a fsmaller aperture'intended for use to anchor 'the outer, end portions of the end blocks of The, blocks indicated at 4 which are formed to represent building elements, such as bricks, are cast or molded of cement or other suitable plastic material which will set and harden. The blocks are cast onto the'backing board 1 and the plastic block material Hows or is pressed down into the apertures 2 and 35o that when the blocks are formed the material of which the blocks are composed is integrally keyed in the apertures of the board 1 and said keys being of wedge or dovetail shape holdthe blocks permanently and rigidly in place on the face of the board 1.

Inthe case of the elongated apertures 9 the same bridge adjacent locks, preferably the blocks in the same horizontal row and thus an .elongated key 5 is thus formed, occupying the aperture 2 and integral at either end with adjacent blocks. In thecase of end blocks of a horizontal row an additional key 6 is formed occupying the end apertures 3. The ends of the board 1n and the ends of the rows of blocks are preferably staggered -as illustrated in Fig. 1 so that the sections will interlock when'nailed in place.

After the sections are nailed in place with the edges of the boa-rds 1 abutting, as indicated in Fig. 9, bricklayers mortar or other vsimilar plastic material is then filled in the grooves or valleys 7 between adjacent blocks in the same and adjacent rows and also in the space between the end blocks of adjacent 'sections as illustrated in Fig. 9.v

Thus the blocks are pointed with mortar` as are also the joints between wall sections, further bracing the blocks rigidly in place and also sealing the jointsbetween blocks and the boards and also the joints between the sections to prevent the entrance of mortar.

In manufacturing my improved wall covering I prefer to use a shallow mold having a closed bottom and a low perimetral wall in- .dicatedvat 8 in Fig. 5, the wall having a d contour corresponding to the perimetral edge of the Wall sections. The a ertured backing board 1 is laid in lsaid mol and a grid laid down thereon. Thev grid is formed of the bars 9 which are permanently fixed together,

the bars defining the spaces or valleys between the blocks andalso the valleys which are to be formed along certain of the perimetral edges of thel units, as for instance the right end and bottom of the unit as illustrated in Fig. 1. These valleys are indicated by the numeral7 in Fig. 1.'

The cement or other plastic material is then filled into themold and tamped or jarred until the material fills the apertures 2 and 3 and also fills the mold. The'cement is then struck oiil level with the top edges of the grid f and the material is then allowedv to set and harden. When .the section is removed from the mold it is-allowed to cure. To insure proper texture and strength the cement is kept properly wet or dampened While in the mold.

The inished and cured section is then ready to be nailed in place and after the Wall is finished the valleys between the blocks and at the edges of the section are pointed with mortar as at 10. I

In Fig. 6 I show each block 4 provided with its individual key ll-extending longitudinally of theblock and occupying a corresponding aperture 12. In Fi 8 I show each block 4 provided with two Iieys 13 adjacent to either end of the block and occupying individual apertures 14 in the board 1.

`My improved Wall covering provides a much better simulation of a wall of brick or other laid unit than is afforded by the present practice. The blocks are of material which may be colored and finished to very closely resemble brick or other laid units.

It is permanent in character and very in-- expensive to manufacture and put in place. It forms a perfectly moisture-proof and durable wall surface, and forms a very satisfactoryinsulation against heat and cold.

That I claim is y -l. A wall covering for simulating bricks and other laid building units, comprising a backing board of an uninterruptedsheet of composition having apertures formed therein and blocks cast of plastic material on the face of the board with intervening valleys and the blocks being provided with integral keys seated in the apertures to anchor the blocks to the backing board.

2. A wall covering forx'simulating bricks i the blocks belng pointed with mortar.

face of the board with intervening valleys and the blocks being provided with integral kevs seated in the apertures to anchor'the blocks to the backing board, the valleys between the blocks being pointed with mortar. 4. A wall covering for simulating bricks and other laid building units, comprising a.

backing board of an uninterrupted sheet of composition having apertures formed therein having forwardly converging walls and blocks cast of plastic material on the face of f blocks being 4seated 1n the the board with intervening valleys and the provided with integral keys apertures to anchor the blocks to the backing board, the valleys between 5. A wall covering comprised of abutting sections of an uninterrupted sheet of compo! sition board with spaced apart blocks of plastic material on their front face. said blocks being anchored to the boards by means of keys integral. with their rear faces and Vother laid and voccupying` apertures in the boards, the valleys between the blocks and at the abutting' edges of the blocks being pointed with mortar.

.6. A wall covering for simulating bricks building units comprising a backing board of composition. having apertures formed therein and blocks cast of plastic material said blocks .being spaced apart and being anchored to the board by keys iny tegral with their rear faces occupying apertures 1n the board. said keys and apertures bridging adjacent blocks.

T. A wall covering for simulating bricks 'i and other laid building units comprising an Auninterrupted sheet of backing board in `which is out a keying aperture having closed sides and ends and a block of plastic material Acast on the face of said sheet with a portion of said material filling said aperture and thus integrally keying the block to the sheet.

8. A wall covering for simulating bricks and other laid building units comprising an uninterrupted sheet of backing board in which is cut akeying aperture having closed sides and ends and a block of plastic material cast on the faceof said sheet with a'portion of said material filling lsaid aperture and thus integrally keying the block to the sheet,

the sheet being-of proper dimensions to exintegrally sides and ends and blocks of plastic material cast on the face of said sheet with portions of said material filling said apertures and thus integrally keying the block to the sheet, the surface of the sheet being exposed between and around said blocks to form-the valleys between adjacent blocks when the wall covering is erected. v

11. A wall covering for simulating bricks and other laid building units comprising an uninterrupted sheet of backing board in which are cut keying apertureshaving closed -sides and ends and blocks of plastic mate-v rial cast on the face of said. sheet with portions of said material filling said apertures and thus integrally keying the block to the sheet, said apertures and keys bridging the -valleys between adjacent blocks.

12. A wall covering for simulating bricks and other laid building units comprising an uninterrupted sheet of backing board in which are cut keying apertures having closed sides and endsand blocks ofplastic material cast onl the face of said sheet with portions of said material filling'said apertures and thus keying the block to the sheet, the

surface of the sheet being exposed between l and around said blocks to form the valleys between adjacent blocks when the wall coveris erected, said apertures and-keys bridging the valleys between adjacent blocks.

ing

Signed at January, 1931. 1

JOSEPH @AU-SS.

Pittsburgh, Pa., this 21st day ofy 

